THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
...In reality, the "serpent" that tempted Eve was probably not a "snake" — at least, not the kind you're imagining. Per Aleteia, the Hebrew word used in Genesis was nahash. This translates broadly to "serpent," but was also used to describe powerful Biblical creatures like giant sea monsters. Thus, it's quite possible the serpent in the Garden was a terrifying creature more like a dragon than a snake, which would help explain why Adam and Eve felt so compelled to obey his commands.
Genesis is quite clear that the serpent only became a snake after being caught by God for tempting Eve. Per Genesis 3:14, God cursed the serpent, saying, "You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life." God's curse makes it sound like the serpent must have been walking on legs up until that point, including when it tempted Eve. It's unfortunate that this detail is usually overlooked; wouldn't a legged serpent make for a cooler painting of the scene?
THE SERPENT WHO TEMPTED EVE WASN'T ACTUALLY SATAN
Per the Biblical Archaeology Society, "Satan" didn't emerge as a concept until the second and first centuries BCE. Genesis was written several centuries before this; perhaps as early as 950 BCE, according to Britannica. This is a bit confusing, as the term "satan" does appear throughout the Hebrew Bible, but in ancient Hebrew, "satan" simply meant "adversary" or "accuser." Numerous characters in the Old Testament are referred to as "the satan," but it wasn't until later in the Jewish tradition that the idea of a powerful lord of darkness known as "Satan" was created.
When the idea of Satan did ultimately emerge, many Jews and Christians reinterpreted the story of the Garden of Eden. Under the new (now common) interpretation, the serpent in the Garden was Satan himself — even though this is never stated in Genesis.
Etymology 1
Compare Ugaritic 𐎐𐎈𐎌 (nḥš, “snake”), Arabic حنش (“snake”), Akkadian 𒌨𒈤𒊭𒆠 (nēšu ša qaqqari, “chameleon, reptile”, literally “lion of the ground", "predator that crawls upon the ground”).
נַחַשׁ • (nákhash) m [pattern: קֶטֶל]
magic, sorcery, spell, enchantment, augury
Aramaic
נחש • (transliteration needed)
to divine
The thunderbird myth and motif is prevalent among Algonquian peoples in the "Northeast", i.e., Eastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and eastward) and Northeastern United States, and the Iroquois peoples (surrounding the Great Lakes). The discussion of the "Northeast" region has included Algonquian-speaking people in the Lakes-bordering U.S. Midwest states (e.g., Ojibwe in Minnesota).
In Algonquian mythology, the thunderbird controls the upper world while the underworld is controlled by the underwater panther or Great Horned Serpent. The thunderbird creates not just thunder (with its wing-flapping), but lightning bolts, which it cast at the underworld creatures.
Thunderbirds in this tradition may be depicted as a spread-eagled bird (wings horizontal head in profile), but also quite commonly with the head facing forward, thus presenting an X-shaped appearance overall.
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe version of the myth states that the thunderbirds were created by Nanabozho for the purpose of fighting the underwater spirits. They were also used to punish humans who broke moral rules. The thunderbirds lived in the four directions and arrived with the other birds in the springtime. In the fall they migrated south after the ending of the underwater spirits' most dangerous season.
Menominee
The Menominee of Northern Wisconsin tell of a great mountain that floats in the western sky on which dwell the thunderbirds. They control the rain and hail and delight in fighting and deeds of greatness. They are the enemies of the great horned snakes (the Misikinubik) and have prevented these from overrunning the earth and devouring mankind. They are messengers of the Great Sun himself.
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